Translated by AIVersione italiana
Key points
- Growing loneliness
- ‘Ambivalent’ social media
- Social prescription
2′ min read
Translated by AIVersione italiana
Friendships not only make us feel good, but they also help us live better and longer lives. To mark World Friendship Day on 30 July, scientific evidence reminds us that a network of strong relationships is a genuine protective factor: it promotes psychological wellbeing, improves physical health and can increase the chances of living longer by up to 50 per cent. Meanwhile, chronic social isolation is linked to around 870,000 deaths worldwide each year – 100 every hour. This impact on health, described in a 2025 WHO report, is comparable to that of smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It is from these figures that the value of social relationships emerges clearly.
Growing loneliness
“Loneliness is a growing phenomenon,” explains Ilaria Lega, a researcher at the National Centre for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (Cnapps) of the Italian National Institute of Health. “According to the WHO, one in six people worldwide feels lonely. Among young people, the phenomenon affects one in five, whilst in low-income countries it affects almost one in four.”
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The researcher emphasises that “it is not just demographic changes and lifestyles that are having an impact, but also the way in which relationships are formed today”
‘Ambivalent’ social media
In the case of younger people, for example, it is not social media itself that causes loneliness, but rather the ways in which it is used and the quality of the experiences they have in the virtual world. When used as a space for discussion, sharing and participation, it can strengthen social bonds; conversely, passive use or use characterised by negative and hostile interactions can exacerbate feelings of isolation and loneliness
Older people also represent a particularly vulnerable section of the population. Although they are not the group reporting the highest levels of loneliness, they are among those who benefit most from maintaining meaningful relationships and having opportunities to participate in community life
Social prescription
To tackle the challenge of social isolation, several countries are trialling new approaches. ‘In the UK, a Ministry for Loneliness has been set up,’ concludes Lega, ‘and in several countries, including Italia, the model of “social prescription” is gaining ground, whereby doctors, alongside traditional treatments, can refer patients to activities such as walking groups, choirs, workshops or voluntary initiatives. This approach recognises the value of relationships as an integral part of health.”
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